Word Formation: Compound Adjectives

Objective

To understand how compound adjectives are formed.

Starter

Last lesson we saw how adjectives can be combined with nouns to make compound nouns, such as blackbird or red card.

What's different about these two examples: grass-green or lifelong?

These words are both examples of compound adjectives.

The second word is the base adjective (e.g. green or long) and the first word is the specifying adjective (e.g grass- or life).

Can you think of any other examples of compound adjectives?

Activity 1

In the next activity, you will match words together to form common compound adjectives. 

Drag the cards together to connect and double click to separate.

What do you notice about this list of compound adjectives?

What word class does each word belong to?

colour-blind, fireproof, knee-high, paper-thin, seasick, water-tight

All these compound adjectives are formed with a specifying noun!

colour-blind, fireproof, knee-high, paper-thin, seasick, water-tight

For each compound adjective, think of an alternative noun that would change the meaning.

For example: snow-blind.

Here are some possible solutions:

snow-blind, waterproof, waist-high, wafer-thin, carsick, air-tight

All these words are still adjectives, since the base word is an adjective.

Choose ten compound adjectives we have looked at so far and write a sentence for each one.

Share with a partner: have they been used correctly?

Activity 2

There are more ways we can form compound adjectives. In the next activity, look at the compound adjectives and organise them into two lists based on how they are formed. 

If you are unsure, look closely at any patterns you notice in the second, base word and how it is written. 

You should have organised the compound words into these two categories (in any order!):

1. Present participle (-ing)

• record-breaking, money-saving, heart-breaking

2. Past participle (-ed)

• state-owned, well-behaved, tailor-made

(Make is an irregular verb.)

Write a six sentences using the comound adjectives ending with present and past participles. 

Share with a partner: have they been used correctly?

Extension

Look back at the words from today's lessons. Can you form any original or silly compound adjectives and come up with possible definitions? 

Or invent some completely new compound adjectives that you could use in daily-life or to sell a new product. 

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